Edwards's great fame rests upon his work as a theologian in the defense and the development of the evangelical system. Ile was originally. and remained, a strong Calvinist. His earliest discussion, that on Justification, was marked by a certain conventionality of treatment, in dicating the controlling influence of theological tradition. But there is even here the breathing of a new spirit. as when faith is defined in a way unknown in the previous century, and identified with repentance as constituting with that the in divisible act of conversion. The treatise upon the Freedom of the Will is an unwavering defense of determinism, and contends not only that this is the teaching of Scripture and reason, but that any other view is false, absurd, and inconceivable, even by those who propound it. The doctrine which he this maintains is only the position of Locke, from whose earlier editions all the posi tions and all the arguments, including even the famous flcdactio ad Absurd um of the infinite series, are all drawn. But the fineness, the dia lectical skill, the detail with which every con ceivable objection is brought forward and de molished, and the tremendousness of the gen eral effect, are all Edwards's own. While too much praise has often been lavished upon the book as a contribution to the permanent ad vancement of the theme, too much cannot well be said of its perfection of form, or of the influ ence which it immediately obtained and has con tinued to hold. It is probably the most famous book in theology that America has yet produced, and one of the most famous philosophical works of the world. But there was much that was new in Edwards and which was destined to begin a distinct theological movement in America. In the treatise ill•on Original Sin suggestions look ing to a new emphasis upon the voluntary char acter and personal nature of sin were made, which, in combination with suggestions in the FITetioni of the Will upon the natural power of man, led ultimately to a new anthropology, in which the doctrine: of original sin, imputation, ability, and regeneration were to undergo much modification. (See NEW ENGLAND THEOLOGY. )
Nor. directly influential was the treatise upon the Nature of This propounded the doc trine that the essence of virtue is love. or the choice of the good of being according to its worth. Thus for the first time in America all intelligible answer was given to the'question, What is holi ness': and tine moral of Cod were viewed as comprised in love. The treatise was a posthumous one, but its leading ideas were at once adopted by became the underlying idea of the theory of the Atonement adopted by Edwards': son. :ind have become the charaeterist is principles of the school of thought called 'New England,' or often 'Edwardcan.' from Edwards himself. Miler suggestions are to lie found scat tered ula and down the pages of Edwards, many of which have greatly influenced his followers.
But most of all, perhaps, should be noted his utter loyalty to truth and his fearlessness in investigation.
Edwards was preemilagitly a religious man. As a child he was profoundly impressed with the thought of Cod. Ile displayed modesty, humii ity, and serenity of spirit. Although engaging constantly in theological controversy, lie is im personal, calm, just, fair, and candid in his method of conducting the discussion. ]Mc was a student from his childhood, and extended his studies over pretty much the entire range of learning in his day. As a preacher he was one of the first of his age. His ability to hold the attention of his audiences to long and careful trains of thought till he had eonvinced and won them, would of itself illustrate this statement. But the well-known instances of his great power over congregations, as in the sermon at Enfield, where the people rose in their seats and wept and sobbed as he described the state of the lost, till lie was obliged himself to ask them to be still, prove his ability to stir the feelings profoundly, and that he felt profoundly himself.
Editions of his works are the Worcester (1809), originally in eight volumes, now re printed in four volumes; and (the best) the Dwight edition in ten volumes (New York, 1829 30), with memoir. Consult Allen, Jonathan Edwards (Boston, 1889).